History of Hispanics in the Americas

September 15 marks the start of National Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S., commemorating a Hispanic heritage dating to the 1400s, when explorers from Spain and Portugal began colonizing the New World.  Given the impact of Hispanic exploration in the Americas, there are hundreds of historic sites to celebrate Hispanic and Latino heritage both in the U.S. and elsewhere.  Why not travel to them during Hispanic Heritage Month?

New York

The Hispanic Society Museum and Library is home to one of the largest collections of Spanish manuscripts and art outside of Spain.  In Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood, visitors can explore the museum's extraordinary collection of more than 18,000 works of art. 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Spain conquered Puerto Rico and founded the capital city of San Juan more than 500 years ago, in 1521. Visitors to the island can learn about the Spanish era at the still-imposing Castillo San Felipe del Morro, constructed beginning in 1539.

St. Augustine, Florida

America's oldest continuously inhabited colonial city, St. Augustine, was founded on Sept. 8, 1565, by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, a Spanish admiral.  Spain occupied Florida until 1763 and again from 1783 to 1821.  The city has many Hispanic heritage sites, including the National Park Service's Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.  The Spaniards built it in the late 1600s to protect the city from pirates.  It's the oldest masonry fortification in the continental U.S.

Mexico City

The Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, fell to the Spanish 500 years ago, on Aug. 13, 1521. In the subsequent centuries, the ruins of that metropolis morphed into Mexico City.  Before it was a bustling metropolis, the region was home to giant lakes dotted with islands.  

Although the Spanish destroyed much of the Aztec city, certain archaeological sites, including the area around the Templo Mayor, can still be seen today.  Visit the Museo Nacional de Antropologia to learn more about Aztec culture and the human side of this tragic history.

Cartagena, Colombia

The walls of Cartagena de Indias were erected more than 400 years ago to defend the city against pirates and other colonial powers.  This was one of Spain's richest and most important bases in the New World, as it shipped out treasures plundered from Colombia and the rest of northern South America. The walls and forts, such as Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, were built to prevent Cartagena from invasion by the English, French and privateers.  They remain some of the best-preserved Spanish fortifications in South America.

Quito, Ecuador

Quito is the oldest continuously inhabited South American capital and was a population center long before the Spanish founded their city there in the 16th century. The Spanish forced locals to convert to Catholicism and built many churches and monasteries, including the Church of San Agustin.  It was here that Ecuador's Act of Independence was signed in 1809 after a victory over the Spanish troops.  Many religious buildings are now museums you can visit in the historical center of Quito — the first city designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.

Spain's military, economic, and cultural conquest created a significant historical record of Hispanic heritage that endures today.  However, that success resulted from brutal campaigns and the suppression of countless Indigenous cultures already living in North and South America.

 

Newsletter: Successful Publishing

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 Content of this Newsletter:

- RESIDENCIES & FELLOWSHIPS

- WRITING CONTESTS

- RESIDENCIES & FELLOWSHIPS

- MORE ON BOOK TIKTOK

- FREELANCE WRITING

- BOOK BLOGGERS & REVIEWERS

I hope your summer has been filled with lots of reading and sunshine. In many ancient cultures, the month of September was the beginning of a new year - new beginnings. Enjoy a long Labor Day weekend, full of good books. See where next year's writing vacation could bring you, how many freelance writing opportunities are out there, learn about writing contests, and even what writer’s relief grants are offered in these often trying times.

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- RESIDENCIES & FELLOWSHIPS

Marchmont Retreat

Our second writers' residency opportunity, will also take place in the atmospheric Tower Studio using one of our Hobbit Pods for accommodation. The residency takes place over 4 weeks and includes a Writers Weekend event. The successful candidate receives a weekly stipend of £350 together with the fully funded studio and accommodation. The starting date of the residency is 27th Oct 2023. Location Marchmont, Greenlaw, Berwickshire, UK.   https://www.marchmonthouse.com/residencies/writers-autumn-retreat

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Cullman Fellowships

The Cullman Center’s Selection Committee awards up to 15 fellowships a year to outstanding scholars and writers—academics, independent scholars, journalists, and creative writers. Foreign nationals conversant in English are welcome to apply. Award: A stipend of up to $70,000, an office, a computer, and full access to the Library's physical and electronic resources.  Deadline: Sept 29   

https://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/fellowships-institutes/center-for-scholars-and-writers/fellowships-at-the-cullman-center

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Dry Tortugas Ntl. Park Residencies
Those chosen will spend a month alone in a house on Loggerhead Key, Florida with all sorts of tropical flora and fauna. Open to all artists, writers, musicians, or performance artists. Sponsored by the Key West Art and Historical Society. Artist stipend $4,000. Couples are allowed. Deadline Sept 29

https://nationalparksartsfoundation.submittable.com/submit

– FREELANCE WRITING

INEWS
Seeks opinion and analysis pitches that offer new angles on the news, as well as engaging original stories drawn from personal experience. Your pitch should be well-argued, punchy and genuinely interesting – it should make us want to read on. Expect 30 cents/word.  https://inews.co.uk/how-to-pitch-i-opinion

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Ars Technika

Seeks writers of science journalism. Specializes in news and reviews, analysis of technology trends, and expert advice on topics ranging from the most fundamental aspects of technology to the many ways technology is helping us discover our world. Pitch John Timmer, Senior Science Editor at jtimmer@arstechnica.com.  https://arstechnica.com/about-us/

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Canthius

Open to women, trans men, nonbinary, Two-Spirit, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming writers. Unpublished poetry and prose (both fiction and creative non-fiction – "we welcome experimental works and play excerpts). Prose submissions to 3500 words and poetry submissions to five poems." Payment: $50 for one page, $75 for two pages, $100 for three, $125 for four pages, and $150 for five pages or more, regardless of genre. Deadline: Sept 15.  https://www.canthius.com/submissions

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GLUG MAGAZINE

 Seeks creative ideas around wine: drinking it, loving it, eating with it, travelling for it, making it. Pitch Richard Croasdale, Editor at richard@beer52.com with a one-paragraph synopsis. Pays writers 23p per word. Glug is a new wine magazine from the team behind Ferment.  https://www.beer52.com/glug

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Ex-Puritan

Fiction, nonfiction, poetry. Payment: $100 per nonfiction piece, $50 fiction, $15 per poem. Deadline: Sept 25

https://ex-puritan.ca/submissions/

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The Writer’s Chronicle

Nonfiction articles on writing. Payment: $18 per 100 words for accepted manuscripts. Deadline: Sept 30   https://www.awpwriter.org/magazine_media/submission_guidelines

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Toronto Journal

Short stories from anywhere in the world. They will also consider non-fiction pieces about local history (Toronto, GTA, and surroundings). No word limit. Payment: $50 CAD per piece. All published writers will also receive two printed copies of the issue in which they appear. Deadline: Oct 1.   https://torontojournal.com/submit/

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– WRITING CONTESTS

The Forge Literary Magazine Competition

$5 ENTRY FEE. Submissions open September 1st each year with the submission window closing on September 14th or when we reach our Submittable limit. Categories are flash fiction and flash nonfiction. In 2023, the first-place winners will be awarded $1,000.00 

https://forgelitmag.com/competition/

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Writers Online Monthly Contest
This month we're asking you to write a story that involves some aspect of age. Young age, middle age, old age - how will you convey them in your fiction, and how will it influence the story you choose to tell? Your story should be 1,500-1,700 words. The winner will receive £200 and publication in Writing Magazine, with £50 and publication in Competition Showcase for the runner-up. Entry is open to any writer.  £ 7.50 Entry Fee. Deadline Sept 15.  

https://www.writers-online.co.uk/writing-competitions/age/

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Michael Marks Award for Poetry Pamphlets 

Only pamphlets published in the United Kingdom are eligible. Poetry pamphlet. Prize: £5,000. Deadline: Sept 22.    https://michaelmarksawards.org/awards-2022/

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International Booker Prize 

Fiction translated into English is awarded annually by the Booker Prize Foundation to the author of the best eligible novel or collection of short stories. The work must be published by a UK or Ireland publishing house. Authors are not permitted to enter their own works. Prize: £50,000 divided equally between the author and the translator. Deadline: Sept 29      

https://thebookerprizes.com/information-for/entering-the-booker-prizes

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StoryUnlikely

Creative Nonfiction (including memoir) and fiction (Commercial Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Cross-genre, Experimental, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Literary Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, Short Fiction, Speculative Fiction). Payment: 8 cents/word stories up to 2,000 words. Stories longer than this are capped at $150 payment. Deadline: Sept 29  https://www.storyunlikely.com/#submit

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Saints and Sinners Short Fiction Awards

Submissions are welcomed from around the world. Submit between 3,000 and 7,000 words with LGBT content on the broad theme of “Saints and Sinners.” One grand prize of $500 and two second-place prizes of $100 will be awarded. In addition, the top stories will be published in an anthology. There will also be a book release party and reading held during the 21st annual Saints and Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival in New Orleans in 2024.  $20 Entry Fee. Deadline Oct 2   https://tennesseewilliamsfestival.submittable.com/submit

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Tennessee Williams Fest One-Act Play Contest

Submissions are welcomed from around the world. Grand prize is $1,500, professional staged reading at the next festival, VIP All-Access Festival pass ($600 value) for the next festival, and publication in Bayou Magazine. The top finalists will receive a panel pass ($100 value) to the Festival. Their names will be published on our website, e-newsletter, and our social media pages. This contest is for emerging or previously unpublished playwrights. Only plays not previously published, professionally produced, or performed are eligible. $25 Entry Fee. Deadline Oct 2

https://tennesseewilliamsfestival.submittable.com/submit

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Carol Shields Prize for Fiction
The winner of the Prize will be awarded $150,000 USD. Four finalists will each receive $12,500 USD. The Prize considers novels, short story collections, and graphic novels. The Prize is open to fiction written by women and non-binary writers for an adult audience. The Prize welcomes and encourages submissions by transgender woman authors. Publishers may submit two titles per imprint, per publishing house, per year.  Deadline Oct 13  https://carolshieldsprizeforfiction.com/submissions

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- MORE ON BOOKTIKTOK

Author’s success on TikTok. You might have heard about it. Even all the big book stores promote these books. Digging deeper into what BookTikTok is all about:  Multiple BookTokkers have single-handedly sold out books and pushed them into the hands of new and established readers alike. Authors, readers, publishers, agencies—they are all taking notice 

https://catapult.co/dont-write-alone/stories/how-booktok-is-changing-publishing-cecilia-beard-social-media-and-publishing-industry

https://www.today.com/popculture/books/what-is-booktok-meaning-rcna70362

https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/culture/what-is-booktok/

https://blog.hootsuite.com/booktok

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- BOOK BLOGGERS & REVIEWERS

Do you wonder how you can tap into a source of free promotions? If you are new to the world of book bloggers and reviewers, consider reading The Author’s Guide to Working with Book Bloggers. It is chock full of good advice – based on a survey of 715 book bloggers. Do you feel out of your comfort zone when dealing with Book Bloggers?

https://bookbloggerlist.com/instructions-for-authors/

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Lots of celebrations in September: Labor Day on the first Monday in September, Native American Day is always celebrated on the 4th Friday of September, and Constitution Day.  Can you imagine: summer is almost over and for others, Christmas and New Year’s are only three months away?  Why not start to prepare your marketing for the season right now?  Learn here which freelance writing opportunities are out there, about writing contests, and even what writer’s relief grants are offered. 

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